As Far As We Know @ Summerhall

Writer-performer Sam Ward is no stranger to wowing Fringe audiences. Maybe that’s why a near-capacity audience of over 100 people squeezes into Summerhall's Main Hall to witness this performance of his new solo show, billed as a "hallucinogenic road trip through a world of anomalies".

The set is simple: desk and chair, Anglepoise lamp, microphone on a stand. It soon becomes clear that Ward is going to read out his script at a hectic pace, his words amplified and augmented by music and sound effects. With his head down most of the time, it’s like watching a voiceover artist recording an audiobook – not without interest, but somewhat lacking in spectacle.

Even the story doesn’t seem outstanding at first. It sounds like the recollection of a dream about an unnamed woman seeking to understand why holes have started appearing in her garden. But we notice very quickly that this tale is holding our attention. It develops into a kind of absurdist odyssey full of recurring themes and characters. There’s strong imagery and humour. Above all, it’s fun.

The woman teams up with a Bogart-style private detective. Seeking answers to endless riddles, they veer between buildings, woods, deserts and suburbia. This is the genius of the piece: Ward's brilliant delivery sucks you into a world not so different from our own and yet full of unsettling, surprising situations. It turns out to be another surprising tour de force from YESYESNONO, the theatre company led by Ward and producer Rhian Davies – and it's a masterclass in storytelling.

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As Far As We Know, Summerhall (Main Hall), until 31 Aug (not 18, 25), 10.40am, £19.50/£17